Improved decks for canal-boats



Nrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

vAMOS A. BISSELL, OF LOOKPORT, NEW YORK.

IMPROVED DECKS FOR CANAL-BOATS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 59.171, dated October 30, 1866.

To all whom it may concern: l

Be it known that I, AMos A. BIssELL, of Lockport, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented a new andv Improved Portable Ooveringfor the Deck of Vessels, and for other purposes; and I do hereby decla-re that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,`making part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a perspective view, representing three sections of my improved covering as applied to protect a cargo of goods on the deck of a vessel. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the covering of sections as arranged when not in use.

Like letters designate corresponding parts in both figures.

The object of myimprovcment is to provide a suitable portable deck or cover for protecting freight on boats and vessels, and in other places where temporary protection is required; and the invention consists in making the same in a series of light and uniform sections, so constructed as to be capable when extended of being adjusted and adapted one to the other, so as to resist rain and snow and obstruct the sun, and to be stored in compact form and small compass, and securely bound together I when not required for shelter, substantially in the manner described.

In the drawiggs, A A represent sections of my improved deck placed transversely across the boat, so that every alternate one shall rest upon the sides of the two adjacent ones, as shown in Fig. 1. These sections may be made of boards c c, (three-quarter-inch stuff being of sufficient thickness,) jointed by ton guin g and grooving, and nailed or otherwise secured to ribs or rafters B B. These ribs should be made with a curved or segmental form, as represented, to present to the weather a surface sueiently convex to prevent water from 4standing on the sections when completed; and they should be of a length equal to the width of the boat they are designed to span, or of the other l space to be protected.

Directly over the ribs' or rafters, on each side of the sections, strips cl d are fastened in any suitable manner, for a purpose presently to be explained. The joints lbetween the sections c c and those between the strips d cl and the former are made water-tight by the use of paint or other impervious material in forming the same.

This construction not only prevents the water from soaking through between sections c c to the goods or freight beneath, but the strips d d render any leakage at the junction of the sections impossible, which would occur were they not employed.

At each end of the central ribs are eyes or staples f f, through which pass ropes g g, which serve to keep the sections in place and the upper alternate ones bound down against those underneath.

The operation of adjusting my improved deck or cover is simple and obvious. Two sections are first placed over the space to be sheltered, at such a distance apart as to allow a third one to be so placed between them that its outer ribs, B B, will rest upon the sides and against the strips d d of the former, as shown in Fig. l, these stripsalso serving to help keep the sections in place by preventing the under ones from being disconnected from those above. This process is repeated till the required space is covered, when the ropes g g are passed through the eyes ff and firmly fastened at the bow and stern of the vessel, so as to keep them taut, and the tension holds both the upper and lower seriesin line and keeps them from being raised or displaced by the wind or other cause. They may be further secured by lashing the uppermost series to the vessels rail by passing a cord, t', through the eyes f f or around the rope g.

When not in use the sections may be compactly piled up and securely fastened together by drawing up the ropes g g and tying them 'at each end, or by passing them over the top and then tying, as represented in Fig. 2.

The cover ordinarily used by boatmen is made of canvas, which seldom affords complete protection against wet, even when in good order. It is found extremely difficult to make the necessary seams water-tight, and a slight wear or hole in any portion forms a depression, into and through which the water soaks or runs, to the detrimentof the cargo beneath,

which, if grain or flour, is thereby subject to l great damage and loss". The heat of the sun readily penetrates a canvas cover, and causes damage tov grain and other perishable conimodities by overheating and causing fermentation where there is not free access of air. This is prevented to a great extent by the material of which my covering is composed, wood hav- :ing` less heat-conducting power than canvas.

These difficulties and objections are obviated and overcome by the use of my improvement, the shelter and protection which it affords bei ing effectual both in continued hot weather and during the prevalence of long rains.

The advantages of my invention consist, first, in its economy, as it costs but one-fifth as much as the present cost of canvas, and is inntely more durable. It affords better protection against rain entering, and is less liable-to accidents producing leakage. It is a better non-conductor of heat than canvas. It is light, portable, and easily arranged over a cargo, and readily disposed of when not required. It is capable of being more eectually secured from the rigidity of, the panel-sections, in consequence of which only half the number (the upper alternates) require securing to the deck, the others being held by them; and when so secured it allows the circulation of air beneath and promotes drying. rIhe slightly-curved form of the panel-sections secures an important advantage, as the absorption of moisture in wet weather on the exposed side has the effect only to increase the convexity by curving the rib segments and cleats B d, and does not open the joints or injuriously f Work them, while the exibility of these ribs restores them to the former shape when dry. The ribs B and ledges or cleats d by contact, when the panels are arranged in extended form, serve to strengthen and hold them from being drawn asunder lengthwise, while the rope g prevents their lateral and horizontal separation.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

rlhe combination of the series of curved panels, constructed of narrow jointed strips or boards ce, segmental ribs B,and cleats d, with ropes g and eyes ff, or their equivalents, arranged, as described, to form a portable deckcovering, substantially as set forth.m

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

AMOS A. BISSELL.

Witnesses:

JAY HYATT, J AMES OALKtNs. 

